National Meningitis Association Gala, 2015

A Family Affair, National Meningitis Association, Give Kids A Shot Gala at The Pierre Hotel, NYC

2015 marks the 7th year that I have co-chaired the National Meningitis Association (NMA) gala with Gary Springer. Lenore Cooney joined us as a third co-chair a few years ago. The NMA gala has become a family affair for me, Barry Klarberg and our children. When I met Barry in 2008, Errol Rappaport and I were helping Gary and Nancy Springer with the first NMA event at The Players Club. The event was titled Cause Celebre'. I invited Barry as a guest and did not know at the time, that he had been Nick Springers ice hockey coach before Nick was stricken with meningitis at the age of fourteen. Nick was Barry's goalee, Matt and Ryan Klarberg played hockey with Nick when they were kids. None of them had seen each other in years and have since reunited.

We've come a long way since 2008. That year, Nick brought home a Gold Medal from the Olympics in Beijing. Nancy Ford Springer passed away the first year we had our gala which took place at the beautiful Rainbow Room, shortly before the event. The evening of our first gala was bitter sweet. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. We were all mourning the loss of Nancy, extremely proud of Nick for bringing home the gold and knew that we would be the last event held at the Rainbow Room before they closed their doors.

As the years progressed, I have continued to co-chair this beautiful, heart felt event that takes place annually in New York City. I've gotten to know Lynn Bozof, President of the NMA and other team members and survivors. Many families have lost their loved ones to this terrible disease and attend the gala to remember and honor their family member. The survivors who I have met have more strength than anyone I know. If you want to learn more please go to http://www.nmaus.org for some of their stories. We have formed a very special bond. Lynn Bozof and I eventually asked Barry Klarberg to be a vice chair. Errol Rappaport, a dear friend who initially asked me to be involved made Barry's son Matt his co-auction chair and so on. We all work as a team to help spread the word that there is a vaccine. The NMA named my children Justin and Alana Galloway Teen Health Advocates in 2010 for their work to raise awareness about the vaccine and meningitis.

The photos in this album were originally taken for my personal use and for our family...then I decided, why not tell the story about our family and our children's involvement. Barry and I have kids ranging from seventeen to thirty one and all of them are compassionate about this cause. They all help with auction items and have now included their significant others to help with the charity. We all attend every year and look forward to seeing our extended NMA family. It is a family affair for us as you will see in this photo collection. Sara Herbert-Galloway